Lead hepatotoxicity was experimentally induced in rats, followed by treatment with antioxidant-rich rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) ethanol extract (REE). Lipid profile parameters, liver function markers, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH, and MDA), free fatty acids, and HMG-CoA reductase levels were evaluated using standard biochemical assay kits and ELISA methods. REE exhibited high phenolic (56.69 ± 0.05 GAE/g) and flavonoid contents (8.41 ± 0.02 mg QE/g), and HPLC analysis identified quercetin, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and rosmarinic acid as major phenolic constituents. Hepatic lead accumulation (2.70 ± 0.32; p 0.05 vs. control). These findings demonstrate the hepatoprotective potential of REE, likely mediated by its antioxidant-rich phytoconstituents.
Qaiser et al. (Sun,) studied this question.